A LETTER From an Eminent Person in Gloucester, To a Friend in LONDON: Dated April 2. 1660.  
Giving an Account of the late Passages there, in reference to Maior Gen. Massey.  
LONDON: Printed by James Cottrel. 1660.   

A Letter from Gloucester.  
Honoured Sir,  
I Thank you for yours; and that enclosed. mayor Gen. Massey arrived here on Saturday night last: he came in another way then was expected, on purpose to prevent the throngings of the people. He came in betwixt 7 & 8, and took a private lodging. That night, the Maior, Sheriffs and Aldermen came to see him. The Maior invited him and others to dinner on the morrow, being the Lords day. He heard a Sermon at St. Nicholas, on this text, Prov. 29.2. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. After Sermon, going with the Minister and others to the Maiors house, and passing by the Main Guard, the Commander in chief,( who the night before had highly complemented him,) took him by the arm, intimating a desire to speak with him privately; several of the inferior Officers( one a Captain) crying out, Fall on, kill the Rogues. The Minister telling them the mayor General was willing to obey orders; and how little honour they would gain by killing men unarmed peaceably coming from hearing the Word, had four or five swords drawn upon him, & a Pistol fired at his ear, which did no execution, but the soldiers continued their clamour, saying, The Cavaliers laid designs, and the Presbyterians preached them up. By this time it was noised in the City, that the mayor General and the Minister was killed: whereupon there was a cry, Arm, arm, through all the streets; upon which above 300 appeared immediately in Arms. These running in a tumultuous manner, were desired to forbear a while; and the Minister being relieved by some of them, he fetched the Maior, Aldermen, and divers of the Common Council, who engaged their words to the Commander in chief for mayor Gen. Massey's forth coming; upon which, and upon his own parole, he was permitted to go to dine with the Maior, being first disarmed: and in this condition he remains as yet.  
Sir, in this hurly burly in the City, the said Officers crying, Kill, kill, as before; and one of them leading a party to the Crosss to oppose the Citizens, he was encountered; and being deserted by some of his followers, was forely wounded, and divers of those with him: for so much were the Citizens incensed, that had not great pains been taken, and much mediation used, there had not a foot-souldier been left alive in the City. The horse-men indeed were very civil, affirming themselves to be for them that were for the peace of the Nation and City.  
In about two hours time, all was quiet: mayor Gen. Massey making a Speech to the Citizens, desiring them to manifest their love to him, by a peaceable departure to their habitations: the Bellman( according to the custom) being commanded to proclaim the like.  
These stirs thus over, the Maior and Common Council sate, and voted mayor Gen. Massey a free man, and made him so, in regard that Tuesday is the County-Court: but the Writ for Elections is concealed by a certain person,( you may guess who) who also got the Order( signed March 27.) to apprehended mayor Gen. Massey, upon pretence that he came hither to raise an Army. It is very strange the Writ should be concealed till after Election-day: but I believe he will be chosen here, notwithstanding all this opposition.  
Last night came mayor Harlow very late,( but seasonably) who hath undertaken to keep us in peace, and stop the march of a party of Hesilrig's Horse sent for hither by the fanatics, to help them here.  
Sir, I being an eye-witness of these actions, do sand you this Narrative, to prevent mis-information. We are all quiet now: The City keeps a guard at the Tolsey, and the Souldiers at their Main-guard. To morrow, the Militia are to meet. And to the end the whole Nation may know the truth hereof, I desire you to communicate it by printing. There is onely one ensign and five Souldiers wounded. The ensign said the night before, that he was resolved to wade up to the knees in blood, but he would have mayor Gen. Massey's heart-blood.  
Sir, excuse this trouble. I remain,  
Gloucester, April 2. 1660. Your affectionate Friend.  
FINIS.